EVERYONE LOVES THE GREAT OUTDOORS.

Even the animals like to be outside. There is something about the warmer weather. Outside enjoying nature. Country drives. City walks. Eating your favourite ice cream. The start of markets and fairs and outdoor concerts. A time to enjoy some new adventures and maybe even some challenges. Longer walks and runs and bike rides. Toughen up those calve muscles. Maybe a swim across the pool or lake or just some slow gardening that will make you strong. Oh the outside! have to love it.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY-KEEPING CANADIANS MOVING AND GROWING

With the warmer temperatures, the construction season is in full swing. Road closures or sometimes just lanes causes havoc for the commute. The Construction Industry is a huge component of the Canadian economy. Employing people in many capacities, it helps the ebb and flow of our lives. From electricians to crane operators to the labourer to landscapers there are so many jobs in the industry. Materials and manpower keep us going. There is a huge responsibility to do any job correctly. If a building collapses or a sinkhole occurs, the engineers involved in the projects will be scrutinized. Thus safety with the hard hats, construction boots and an eye to work safely on any job site is paramount. I find a construction site fascinating. I love the way a project comes alive. There are some condo buildings near me in various stages. Digging down to put in the infrastructure- the electrical, plumbing, water, hydro etc. before the concrete could be laid. The building floor by floor is a process or a work of art. Sometimes I walk by them deliberately just to see the progress to date.  Seeing any building especially city sky scrapers is a reminder of the number of people and systems that were needed to work correctly.
Adolph had a summer job years ago when he was  an university student on a skyscraper in downtown Toronto. He was the gofer to bring coffee and other items to the workers on the 15th floor that had no elevator. Needless to say, he had very well toned calves at the end of the season after all the walking up and down the stairs.
Having been involved in a small construction project, i.e. the building of our current family home, I have some knowledge of the process and layers of work needed to be done. The ebb and flow of what needs to come first then second and so on to the completion of the house. Then the ripping apart of our yard several years ago to accommodate 50 boulders from a work site Adolph was contracted to do gave some knowledge of a big landscape project. My paths- the boulders as the boundaries- and gardens were a constant commitment of creativity for several years. Now with the overgrown gardens and the need to weed non-stop is my current project. Constructing and maintaining go hand in hand! Children love all the construction equipment often liking to know the names of each piece. So little tractors or wheelbarrows or diggers can be toys to teach about the Construction Industry. Respect for all the workers! There are individuals in many communities that take pride in the large projects where they took part. Many family members in Toronto brag about their role in building the CN tower for example! Makes us wonder if the workers that built the pyramids in ancient times told their children and grandchildren about their role. I know it was supposed to be slaves but maybe they were not. Maybe real employed workers of the Pharaohs! An ancient Construction Industry!

D-DAY 70TH ANNIVERSARY-TIME TO REFLECT ON CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION

June 6 1944 was such a major military mission that when reviewed historically it never ceases to amaze. Timing the exact day to try the invasion of Europe. Needing the right weather, the tide to be out and the element of surprise made the landing in Normandy a monumental task. 156,000 armed forces! The Canadians landed at Juno Beach. Glider planes landing behind enemy lines with equipment! Tanks, ships, planes! Montgomery felt it was not as successful as he wanted but history tells us it was a success. In 3 months, the Allied Forces were going into Germany with the Soviets coming from the East. Italy had been liberated with that campaign starting in September 1943.
Reflecting on this event it is so hard to imagine what that day was like for the men and women who served. We see old men on TV at anniversary events telling their story. Since it is the 70th anniversary of D-Day there are special celebrations in France as we speak. It is often bittersweet. Remembering brings tears and feelings, happy to be there but remembering the day and those who were lost. Since it has been 70 years, the veterans are getting up there-many now mostly in their 90s! If you see a Vet, get their story. If you have a Vet in your family, write it down as part of your family history. In Canada, you can write for your loved ones war records. I have the records on my grandfather from World War One.
We do not remember the events of war to honour war. We remember to acknowledge the sacrifice that others have made for our lives and our freedom, peace and security in Canada today. Yes if you can hug the Vet and get a picture. Seeing one gentleman on TV in Normandy, treated like a celebrity by the people there, make my heart happy. For those young people to let our guys know it meant something, the least we can do is tell our guys they mean something to us.

WHEN A COMMUNITY IS IN CRISIS

Natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflicts,  fires, and community shootings can put a community in crisis. The event can overwhelm and cause many different levels of feelings and reactions. Ordinary innocent people can be pulled into the drama. The aftermath can have consequences for years to follow. We saw it with September 11th! What helps during these times? Well acknowledging it is a difficult time. It is okay to feel nervous or upset- a fish out of water. Rally with family and friends determining what your role can be. Work with authorities, try not to blame. Know it takes time to plan and find resolutions to situations. Know you do not have to like it!

NANA SAYS PARENTS ARE VIGILANT ABOUT PREVENTING SKIN CANCER

Being vigilant about skin protection starts at a young age. Parents today are more aware of skin cancer and how to prevent it. Hats, sun screen and sun glasses are visible everywhere. Playing in the shade to avoid over exposure to the sun is the norm today. Hydration during outdoor play with a water bottle or juice is important to avoid sun stroke.  Day cares and school insist children bring their sun protection with them. Nana has noticed even the boys' swim suits have longer sleeves and pant lengths. Modern parents have understood the message. Tanning is okay but in small doses. Yes we need to get some Vitamin D from the sun. Teaching children to protect their skin as it is an important vital organ is paramount too. Good going parents for your care and concern about your little ones. Don't worry the grandparents will carry on the job as well.

LIFE IS LIKE A GARDEN

The longer days bring the opportunity to be outside and work in the garden after dinner. Rather than watch the news or summer reruns there is the chance to get some needed exercise. Along with the plants growing so do the weeds. Sometimes the weeds are more prolific than the flowers! Hum! since we have paths and gardens, the growth in the paths can be overwhelming. Not only weeds but little flowers like violets, daisies grow there. Seeds scatter everywhere and do not discriminate whether it is a flower bed or the path. So let them be until they flower or transplant back in the flower beds or just rip them out! The paths actually need a new base of stone on them. Over the years the stones have sunk into the ground. Like life we often need a new layer of something. Revisiting, rejuvenating and restoring what we have. Adding a refreshing top layer to the garden or to us. Gardens are a wonderful composite of life. Plants, bugs, bees, trees, bushes annuals, perennials and yes weeds grow in abundance. The longer the garden survives the more can arrive there. I remember the first years in our house with a backyard full of dirt and some flower beds with items transposed from the old house. Now the trees tall and shading the yard which Adolph complains about lack of sun for his vegetable garden. If I envisioned how green it would be 27years ago, I would not have worried about the brown and the dirt. Different stages of the garden are like different stages of life. The work involved is a mixed blessing for me. With my job I can not give it the attention it needs, so can not be pristine like in the gardening magazines. Some areas are a little wild with whatever finds its way there. I think of the future and how to have a nice garden that would be smaller but manageable. Life lets us move on to whatever is needed for us. A garden a metaphor for many things in our world. Does you garden bring joy? Work? Time to reflect? Where is your favourite spot in your garden?

JUNE RHYMES WITH MOON

June is a an old fashion girl's name. Probably for a child born in June or named after a grandparent. There are several family birthdays for us to celebrate. The 70th anniversary of D-Day occurs. The first day of summer. Weddings are popular this month. For some reason people like to be married in June or August. The end of the school year and lots of dance recitals are happening. Company and family barbecues or picnics are often planned in June. Moving. People are on the move in June-why don't they wait until July. Already on our street two homes have exchanged home owners. June rhymes with the word spoon. It is a dinner utensil or a folksy word for kissing. The moon in June has been used in many poems or movie settings. I don't find the June moon to be anything special- it just rhymes like the word spoon. The loon a Canadian water fowl and racoon-that little bandit that wrecks havoc with homeowners are other words. Daniel Boone a famous American frontier hero may have done something in June. A thug or goon  is not so popular. Noon is a good time of day- lunch and getting closer to home time. The work week has started. So getting ready for work must occur soon. Oh June-the month with so many possibilities! Actually it is like other months. Shorter-only 30 days! So let's get out and enjoy it! What are your plans for June?